Embark on a flavorful adventure as guests of Augusta take on the area’s newest and grandest food tour of 2024 – The Foodie Trot.
Seven guests joined trot co-owners Fran Carr and Lakeisha Germany on Sunday morning, April 14, for a brunch tour to enjoy sweet and savory flavors at four local restaurants.
After living in the area for a number of years, Carr and Germany said they partnered up to create the Foodie Trot, a 2-3 stop walking food tour, in hopes of expanding people’s love of CSRA dishes and culture.
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“Most of our guests have been locals that have lived here forever, and this is their first time getting out and seeing downtown,” Germany said. “We’re a big supporter of local businesses because we feel they put more into the community than a big franchise … they give you food from the soul that’s made with love.”
With a love for Augusta and its unique flavors, Germany and Carr offer three types of tours each weekend for groups of up to six people. These stops include: Broad Street Brunchin’, Bites on Broad and It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere.
While all tours provide guests with shareable dishes, the cocktail tour also tacks on two alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks from two locations.
Although Germany said she and Carr both loved their cocktail tour best for its beautiful sunset environment, the brunch tour quickly became a community favorite since starting the business in January.
“We’re trying to change the narrative of ‘there’s nothing in Augusta to do,’ because it’s not true … there’s so much opportunity within walking distance,” Carr said. “We’re just trying to bring that hope to Augusta. I love Augusta.”
Kicking-off at 10 a.m. sharp, guests met up in front of Augusta & Co. and gave themselves foodie nicknames inspired by their favorite food item.
Following introductions, the trot first stopped at Downtown Augusta’s New Moon Cafe for its famous loaded grits. The southern favorite is topped with Cholula hot sauce, pimento cheese, salsa, Boars Head bacon and just a hint of fresh avocado.
As guests awaited their first dish, Carr related some of the restaurant’s history dating back to in 1995.
After trotters dug into the mouthwatering grits, Pineapple Ink Tavern was the next stop, where participants relished in flavorful wings, mimosas, fried tomatoes and coveted peach ice cream sandwich waffles.
With so much food being passed around the table, guests said it was hard to keep any empty room in their stomachs for more. But luckily Germany and Carr plan for this scenario, as they make it a habit to pack up any leftovers from the tour and donate it to nearby homeless people.
Attendee Jen Hanshew, visiting from northern California, said she really loved the tavern’s fried tomatoes for their tangy batter and juiciness.
“It’s food I haven’t had before … I love tomatoes and I loved how they were prepared. It was super flavorful,” she said. “The tour group was also wonderful.”
At 226 8th St., Foodie Trot’s third brunch stop had visitors try decadent, hot waffles from the Cafe on Eighth. Made by Chef Jerome, the specialty item gave patrons the opportunity to fill up on waffles served with blueberry sauce or a sizzling breakfast gravy.
Finishing off the tour was Augusta’s famous Boll Weevil Cafe and Sweetery along the Riverwalk – well known for its giant cakes with rich layers.
Seated in the cafe, the tour’s food crawlers bopped their heads to live music, while munching down on crunchy egg rolls, as large, colorful slabs of cake were boxed up and passed out.
Attendee Antar Grier said the one-of-a-kind snack reminded him of a perfect on-the-go, Asian infused breakfast burrito that could easily become a morning favorite for those looking to make a quick stop at the cafe.
Avid food tour fans, Grier said he and his family wanted to participate in the trot to learn more about Augusta’s tastier side, as they explored the downtown area.
“It’s a great way to get a little bit of history and the culture of Augusta,” he said. “You get a textile feel, because you’re not only seeing history – you’re tasting it too.”
Grier said his personal favorite tour stop had to be New Moon Cafe for its delicious grits and relaxed environment – as he prefers a more laid back surrounding.
“It just had a pretty positive atmosphere,” he said. “The great part of this tour too is we can expand on this experience. It’s a perfect and easy way to get introduced to the culture.”
Grier’s wife Dian, a newer resident of Augusta, said she thought the Foodie Trot was an excellent experience that she would highly recommend to locals and visitors.
“Of all the cities I’ve been to, this food tour gave us more food and more experiences than any other, and we’ve been on about four food tours,” she said. “I feel I really got the whole flavor of Augusta.”
Accompanied by kind strangers, who also loved sightseeing and photographing different murals, Dian Grier said “it was more than just a food tour.”
“We’ve just had the most wonderful time,” she said. “Even if you live here, it’s a really great thing to do, because you don’t tend to try things outside of your wheelhouse. It’s also a great date.”
Rated the best food tour by all in attendance, owners Germany and Carr said they are confident the tour will continue to expand if more locals support their efforts to highlight mom and pop shops.
“It’s more than just eating. It’s learning about the culture,” Dian Grier said. “It’s learning about the place that you’re visiting, and so you learn about the history and you get to meet fun people that are like minded.”
To find out more about the Foodie Trot or book a tour, visit: https://www.thefoodietrot.com/
“Do a food tour every chance you get. It’s always a great way to meet people and get a flavor of the town,” Hanshew said. “It’s always a fun time. I’ve never been disappointed.”
